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The present study is based on the analysis and conclusions in a preceding paper by the author. Major interpretations of epigenetics are considered - social-ecological, biomedical and bioethical, - as well as their impact on social sciences and humanities, policies and opportunities for human development. The following important conclusions are formulated: firstly, epigenetics can be a stimulus to reform social sciences, as well as for policies aiming at purer environment, less poverty and social inequality, more freedom and less violence; (2) one-sided and implicit biomedical interpretation of epigenetics not only does not solve but intensifies existing problems relating to health and wellbeing of people in contemporary societies; (3) this however does not mean rejecting the biomedical approach but finding it's appropriate and balanced place in the context of functioning ecological and social policies; (4) practices and behavioural models that epigenetics determines as sensitive presuppose respective responsibilities on the part of various subjects - organisations, institutions and pdrticular individuals. A critical evaluation is necessary of attempts to reject responsibilities as well as of their imballanced distribution among various subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subsistence smallholder economy known as the inherent production mode in ancient China hides a lot of mysteries. What is the philosophical framework behind it? How did it come about and last for two millenniums? Why did it lead China to a great prosperity in agricultural era but did not evolute furthermore? This paper offers as a tentative explanation a line of logic, where pan-humanist philosophy evolves a humanity basis and morality standard in economic practice along with Legalist approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reveals the interplay between the idea of multiculturalism and the crisis of the sacral culture. Starting from the myth of the three world religions, the text demonstrates their present dependence on the sacral restoration and, simultaneously, on the postmodern conceptions. The material dwells on the ways in which the modern notions of multiculturalism express the profaned hierarchy of dominance and the destiny of the cultural simulacrum. Like the democratization, the multiculturalism can be interpreted as an indicator of the general historical development but it can also betray the decay of the culture. The paper summarizes the discussions from the past decades and analyzes the opinions of the leading Western and Bulgarian experts in cultural theory. Bridging ethical, religious and political aspects of the problem, the article unveils the approaches toward cultural unity and theoretical substantiation of the individual freedom. The main thesis, set forth, is: we cannot find an adequate interpretation of the nature of the multiculturalism, if the making of the cultural models remains neglected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we will recall that the moral feelings determine moral choice not only through their affective characteristics but also by virtue of their ethical nature. The initial development of moral feelings is considered in the context of the development of emotionality with changed structure - emotionality which is based on cultural and moral signs. Moral feelings as carriers of ethical meanings lay the discussion about moral choice on ethical ground. Such formulation requires knowledge of the ethical significance, study of the moral conflict, search for the ethical guarantees in the choice of ethical decisions. The line of conduct and the ethical choice, which with no doubt have a psychological dimension, must be analyzed as an ethical fact. The overlay of psychological and ethical analysis in this case is not enough. We plead that the ethical perspective has a substantial place in this analysis and it can not be replaced by the analysis of rational trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper analyses the communist treatment of labour in Bulgaria in the first two decades after the establishment of the socialistic rule. It examines the figure of the worker as an ideal type of the communist person. The article also studies the communist negation of idleness and the relation between the idleness and the sexual corruption and moral disgrace. The main accent is put on the conceptualization of the idleness in the terms of anticommunist resistance. A comparison in this sense between the protestant and socialistic labour ethos is made. Also the concept of the "body machine" is untroduced to reveal some aspects of this extremely high valuation of labour on one hand and of neglecting of pleasure on the other hand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper explores in details Emmanuel Levinas's concepts of ethical transcendence and the absolute Otherness of the Other. This original Other-ness in the non-symmetrical relationship of the face-to-face encounter with the Other is found in the ancient myths of the Great Goddess described as an Outlander woman. Her face of the absolute Otherness is regarded as the primal and drainless source of the ethics from which springs the infinity of the cultural horizons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to analyze the basic elements and characteristics of the system of consumerism. Here are examined the main contemporary philosophical conceptualizations of the theme of contemporary consumer society. The influence of the "Diderot effect" on the system of consumerism is shown. It is analyzed the development of contemporary consumerism in relation with its opposite trends and moral strategies for achieving well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Benjamin Franklin brought forward the principles of natural law and morality as the main element in judging the particular acts of human behavior and which of his actions are right or wrong, good or harmful to others around them. His view of democratic citizenship is at the heart of creating a democratic society in which questions of the citizenship, the federalism, the constitutional government, the role of civil association, and religious freedom are freely debated. He introduced the rationality in the actions, and the skepticism in planning and implementation, not only in politics but also in life as at the base of the pyramid of prescriptions stand virtues as a manifestation of high intelligence. He was the statesman at the heart of the formation of the young American nation's mentality, and some of his thoughts gave rise to the most powerful economy in the world. For many, Franklin is in many ways an exceptional historiographical case, encompassing the global emergence of political economy and at the same time codifying a typically capitalist ethos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents an overview of the normative theory of philosopher Charles S. Peirce. It highlights the concept of values, which is the core issue of normativity and are always to some extent provisional and subject to criticism. It adds that the normative science of Peirce are theoretical sciences wherein its course applications be made in arts, in practical ethics and practical reasoning. Moreover, his move in putting the science enclosed within the laws of the conformity of things, securing teleology in the core of normativity, is also emphasized.